Alberta Energy Regulator suspends fracking well linked to Monday earthquake

SYLVAN LAKE, Alta. — The Alberta Energy Regulator has ordered a company to suspend fracking operations at a well site linked to an earthquake that was felt in the communities of Red Deer and Sylvan Lake.

Natural Resources Canada says the 4.6 magnitude earthquake occurred in central Alberta around 5:55 a.m. on Monday.

The regulator says Vesta Energy Ltd. must suspend hydraulic fracturing operations at the site in order to protect the public and the environment.

It says the Calgary-based company must submit a report of all seismic activity in the area since April and specific fracturing data for the well site from Jan. 29 to Monday.

The regulator has also ordered Vesta to file a plan to eliminate or reduce future seismic activity from fracturing.  

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Hydraulic fracturing involves pumping chemicals and sand underground to break up rocks to help get oil and natural gas flowing.

“A Vesta representative contacted the AER through the 24-hour emergency response number at 06:20 a.m. on March 4, 2019, and informed the AER that seismic activity of magnitude 4.32 was detected due to Vesta’s fracturing at the site, and that Vesta had shut down the fracturing operation,” the regulator said in a release Tuesday.

“All operations at the site are suspended immediately unless otherwise directed in writing by the director.”

There were no immediate reports of damage but the community of Sylvan Lake said the power went out in most of the town Monday morning.

Natural Resources Canada’s website says the tremor was classified as a light earthquake.

Vesta confirmed in a statement that it has received an order from the AER to suspend operations specific to the company’s hydraulic fracturing operations in the Red Deer and Sylvan Lake area.

Vesta said it had immediately suspended operations when its real-time seismic monitoring equipment detected a seismic event on March 4 and informed the AER of what had happened.

“There are no reports of injuries or property damage as a result of the seismic event,” said the statement.

“The safety of the public, employees, and contractors is paramount and Vesta takes this incident very seriously. The company is co-operating with the Alberta Energy Regulator and is focused on meeting the conditions required to lift the order.”

The company’s website says its operates in the Joffre Duvernay shale oil basin in central Alberta and had 84 producing wells on-stream last year.

The Canadian Press